The investigators are seeking boys (ages 13.5-17 years) and girls (ages 12-17) years with a diagnosis of delayed puberty. Study participation involves 2 outpatient visits and two hospital admissions (one 11-hour, overnight admission and one 6-hour day admission) when subjects will receive two investigational drugs, the naturally occurring hormones kisspeptin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Subjects will then be followed every 6 months until they reach 18 years of age to determine if their pubertal delay was self-resolved or permanent. Individuals interested in learning more may call 617-724-8592.

Some children with delayed puberty will eventually enter puberty on their own. However, some children with delayed puberty have a permanent condition and require medical treatment to undergo puberty. Right now, there is no reliable diagnostic tool to tell whether a child's delayed puberty will be self-resolving or permanent. The hormone kisspeptin has the potential to prospectively diagnose adolescents with self-resolving or permanent delayed puberty.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

12 Years to 17 Years (Child)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

adolescent boys (ages 13.5-17 years)

adolescent girls (ages 12-17 years)

testicular volume <4 mL OR 4-8 ml with no change in the past 6 months by Prader orchidometer (boys), Tanner stage I OR II breast development with no change in the past 6 months girls)

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01438034